NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that if it is confirmed that Russia withdraws from the city of Kherson, as announced Wednesday by the Russian Defense Ministry, it will be «another victory for Ukraine.»
At a press conference without questions from Italy where he met with the new Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the allied Secretary General said that it remains to be seen what Russia’s moves will be in the coming days, after he said yesterday that the successes of the Ukrainian counteroffensive are «encouraging».
«We have taken note of Russia’s announcement to withdraw from Kherson. We have to see how the situation on the ground develops in the coming days,» the former Norwegian prime minister said, stressing that Russia «is under strong pressure» and if its troops withdraw from Kherson, «it would be another victory for Ukraine.»
In any case, Stoltenberg highlighted the fact that the Ukrainian forces are managing to liberate territory and to get Russia to retreat and withdraw from areas it occupied at the beginning of the invasion. «These advances are due to the courage of Ukrainian soldiers,» he said.
This message comes after Ukrainian authorities warned that the withdrawal of troops in the Kherson region could be a strategic decision to regroup their forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian troops «are not ready to leave the city» and suggested that the Russian army intends to defend Kherson, despite Wednesday’s announcement.
Stoltenberg’s visit is part of the latest tour in Europe to visit leaders such as the British President, Rishi Sunak, or Meloni herself, who have taken office in the last few days.
